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PART 3
DANGEROUS STRUCTURES
DANGEROUS STRUCTURES
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
BUILDING - an independent structure having a roof supported by columns or walls resting on its own foundation and includes dwelling, garage, barn, stable, shed, greenhouse, mobile home, plant, factory, warehouse, school or similar structure.
DANGEROUS BUILDING - all buildings or structures which have any or all of the following defects shall be deemed dangerous buildings:
A. Those whose interior walls or other vertical structural members list, lean or buckle to such an extent that a plumb line passing through the center of gravity falls outside of the middle third of its base.
B. Those which, exclusive of the foundation, show damage or deterioration to 33% of the supporting member or members, or damage or deterioration to 50% of the nonsupporting enclosing or outside walls or covering.
C. Those which have improperly distributed loads upon the floors or roofs or in which the same are overloaded, or which have insufficient strength to be reasonably safe for the purpose used.
D. Those which have been damaged by fire, wind or other causes so as to be dangerous to life, safety, or the general health and welfare of the occupants or the public.
E. Those which are so damaged, dilapidated, decayed, unsafe, unsanitary, vermin infested or which so utterly fail to provide the amenities essential to decent living that they are unfit for human habitation, or are likely to cause sickness or disease, so as to work injury to the health, safety or general welfare of those living therein.
F. Those which have parts thereof which are so attached that they may fall and injure property or members of the public.
G. Those which lack illumination, ventilation or sanitation facilities or because of another condition are unsafe, unsanitary or dangerous to the health, safety or general welfare of the occupants or the public.
H. Those which because of their location are unsanitary, or otherwise dangerous, to the health or safety of the occupants or the public.
I. Those existing in violation of any provision of any building code, fire prevention code or other ordinance of the Township of Penn.
DWELLING - any building which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants.
DWELLING UNIT - any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants.
EXTERMINATION - control and elimination of insects, rodents or other pests by eliminating their harborage places, removing or making inaccessible, materials that may serve as their food, poisoning, spraying, fumigating, trapping or by any other recognized and legal pest elimination methods.
GARBAGE - animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
INFESTATION - presence, within or around a dwelling, of any insect, rodent or other pest.
OWNER - person who, alone or jointly or severally with others:
A. Shall have legal title to any dwelling, or dwelling unit, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof.
B. Shall have charge, care or control of any dwelling or dwelling unit, as owner or agent of the owner, or as executor, executrix, administrator, administratrix or guardian of the estate of the owner. Any such person thus representing the actual owner shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this Part and with rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, to the same extent as if he were the owner.
PERSON - any individual, firm, corporation, association or partnership, or other legal entity.
PROPERTY - a piece, parcel, lot or tract of land.
RUBBISH - combustible and noncombustible waste materials, except garbage, including residue from the burning of wood, coal, coke and other combustible material, paper, rags, cartons, boxes, wood, excelsior, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, tin cans, metals, mineral matter, glass, crockery and dust.
STRUCTURE - anything constructed or erected with a fixed or ascertainable location on the ground or in water, whether or not affixed to the ground or anchored in the water, including buildings, walls, fences, platforms, docks, wharves, billboards, signs and walks.
Whenever the words "dwelling," "dwelling unit," or "premises" are used in this Part, they shall be construed as though they were followed by the words "or any part thereof."
(Ord. 66, 9/5/2002, § 1)
The following standards shall be followed in substance by the Code Enforcement Officer of the Township of Penn in ordering repair, vacation or demolition:
A. If the dangerous building can reasonably be repaired so that it will no longer exist in violation of the terms of this Part, it shall be ordered to be repaired.
B. If the dangerous building is in such condition as to make it dangerous to the health, safety or general welfare of its occupants, or the public and is so placarded, it shall be ordered to be vacated within such length of time, not exceeding 30 days, as is reasonable.
C. No dwelling or dwelling unit which has been placarded as unfit for human habitation shall again be used for human habitation until written approval is secured from, and such placard is removed by, the Code Enforcement Officer. The Code Enforcement Officer shall remove such placard whenever the defect or defects upon which the placarding action were based have been eliminated.
D. If a dangerous building is 50% or more damaged or decayed, or deteriorated from its original condition; if a dangerous building cannot be repaired, so that it will no longer exist in violation of the teems of this Part; or if a dangerous building is a fire hazard existing or erected in violation of the terms of this Part or any ordinance of the Township or statute of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it shall be ordered to be demolished; provided, the cost of repairs to rectify or remove the conditions constituting the nuisance exceed 50% of the market value of the building at the time demolition is proposed.
(Ord. 66, 9/5/2002, § 1)
1. The Code Enforcement Officer shall inspect on a regular basis dwellings, buildings and structures to determine whether any conditions exist which render such premises dangerous buildings within the terms of § 301, above.
2. Whenever an inspection discloses that a dwelling, building or structure has become a public nuisance, the Code Enforcement Officer shall issue a written notice to the person or persons responsible therefor. The notice:
A. Shall be in writing.
B. Shall include a statement of the reasons it is being issued.
C. Shall state a reasonable time to rectify the conditions constituting the nuisance or to remove and demolish the dwelling, building or structure.
D. Shall be served upon the owner, or his agent, or the occupant, as the case may require.
(1) Except in emergency cases and where the owner, occupant, lessee or mortgagee is absent from the Township, all notices shall be deemed to be properly served upon the owner, occupant or other person having an interest in the dangerous building, if a copy thereof is served upon him personally, or if a copy thereof is posted in a conspicuous place in or about the structure affected by the notice; or if he is served with such notice by any other method authorized or required under the laws of the Commonwealth.
(2) Except emergency cases, in all other cases where the owner, occupant, lessee or mortgagee is absent from the Township, all notices or orders provided for herein shall be sent by registered mail to the owner, occupant and all other persons having an interest in said building, as shown by the records of the County Recorder of Deeds, to the last known address of each, and a copy of such notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the dangerous building to which it relates. Such mailing and posting shall be deemed adequate service.
E. May contain an outline of remedial action which, if taken, will effect compliance with the provisions of this Part and with the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
3. Appear at all hearings conducted by the Board of Supervisors and testify as to the condition of dangerous buildings.
(Ord. 66, 9/5/2002, § 1)
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